Trap



Aug. 6, 1957 J. G. wARFu-:LD

TRAP

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1956 INVENTOR.

I I ATT D R N EYS Aug. 6, 1957 J. G. wARFlELD TRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1956 JWM.; 6MM/Ww A'TTDRN EYE Patented Aug. 6, 1957 ice TRAP

James Gordon Warfield, Baltimora, Md. .pplication .luly 25, 1956, Serial No. 606,000

4 Claims. (Cl. 43-59) f This invention relates to traps of the spring actuated jaw type wherein the trap mechanisim is adapted to be installed below a floor with a panel in the oor mounted to drop between gripping elements, and in particular a plate or panel positioned in an opening in a oor and supported by movable elements whereby, with the parts released, such as by a teller of a bank pressing a button, the weight of an individual positioned on the panel causes the panel to drop, striking bumpers on substantially L-shaped levers whereby as the panel forces the ,bumpers downwardly, jaws on upper ends of vertically positioned sections of the `levers move inwardly from the sides and positively grip the leg or the legs of an individual positioned on the panel.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a trap, particularly adapted for burglars, and other hold-up men, in which the device is adapted to be installed below the floor and in front of the window of each teller of a bank whereby, in the event lof a hold-up, it is only necessary for the teller to press a button or exert a pull on a cord to release the trap instrumentalities whereby the trap operates instantly to hold the burglar.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a trap that is adapted to be installed below a floor of a bank or the like whereby the presence of the trap is not readily detected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap for physically holding an individual or animal in which the trap is released by a person, such as a teller, being held up.

`Another important object of the invention is to provide a trap for catching burglars or hold-up men particularly of a bank in which the parts are actuated by mechanical means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanically actuated burglartrap particularly adapted to be installed below a floor in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

p With these and other objects and advantages in `view the invention embodies a panel positioned in an opening in a oor and supported by bars slidably mounted in rails below the floor with transversely positioned bars supporting the rails and slidably mounted whereby with the transversely positioned bars retained by latches the panel is supported ilush with the upper surface of a floor and with the latches released the transversely disposed bars are actuated to release the rails and panel so that the panel maybe forced downwardly by the Weight of an individual thereon, and also in which the panel and mounting means thereof are adapted to actuate gripping jaws so that the jaws move inwardly and grip a leg or legs positioned on the panel.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the trap showing parts thereof supporting the panel in a floor with the upper surface of the panel ilush with the surface of the oor and with a shoe representing the foot of an individual, such as a burglar, positioned on the panel.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, similar to that shown in Figure 1 with cross bars drawn outwardly to release the tracks and bars of the panel.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the panel taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 also showing the parts in position for supporting a panel with the upper surface llush with the upper surface of a floor.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing the panel forced downwardly to the lower position and with the foot of a burglar, or the like positioned thereon.

Figure 5 is a cross section through the trap taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4 showing the relative positions of the parts with the panel in the lower position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved trap of this invention includes a panel 10 having a track `11 formed with rails 12 at one end and a track 13 including oppositely positioned rails 14 and 15, at the opposite end, secured to the under surface of the panel, rollers 16 and 17 carried by arms 18 and 19 positioned with the ends thereof extended into the rails of the tracks, transversely disposed bars 20 and 21 retained in position with latches 22 and 23, respectively, springs 24 and 25 for returning the bars 20 and 21 to supporting positions, as shown in Figure l, pawls 26 and 27 for retaining the bars 2i) and 21 against stops 28 and 29, and bumpers 30 and 31 for actuating jaws 32 and 33, respectively and which are pivotally mounted on shafts 34 and 35 and snapped into gripping relation with a leg 36 with the leg on the lowered panel 10, as shown in Figure 4.

The panel 10 is positioned in an opening 37 in a floor, such as the floor shown in the drawing in which finished flooring 3S on a sub-ilooring 39 is provided with a finishing layer 40 and, with the parts as shown in Figure 3, the panel 10 is provided with beveled edges 41 and 42.

The rails of the tracks 11 and 13 are secured to the under surface of the panel 10, such as by welding, as indicated at the points 43 and 44, in Figure l.

The rollers 16 and 17 are rotatably mounted in bearings 45 and 46 on the ends of the arms 18 and 19 and the arms are pivotally mounted with pins 47 and 48 between angle bars 49 and 50 on a base 51. The base 51 is suspended from side walls 52 and 53 of the trap with angle bars 54 on one side and 55 on the other.

The bumpers 31 and 30 are carried by the ends of plates 56 and 57 on one side and 58 on the other and the plates are secured to square portions of the shafts 34 and 35 with extended ends thereof provided with openings in which upper -ends of springs 59 and 60 are positioned. The lower ends of the springs are secured to eyes 61 and 62 on the base S1. By this means the bumpers 30 and 31 are forced downwardly by the tracks 11 and 13, moving the jaws inwardly, as shown in Figure 5 and upon upward movement of the panel 10 the springs 59 and 6i) return the bumpers and jaws to the positions shown in Figure 3.

The ends of the transverse bars 20 and 21 are slidably mounted on rails 63 and 64 and the bars are drawn outwardly, against the tension of the springs 24 and 25 by. cables 65 and 66 that are secured to eyes 67 and 68 on blocks 69 and 7i) of the transverse bars 20 and 21 are trained over drums 71 and 72 on shafts 73 and 74 and cables and 76 wrapped on the shafts extend to a hidden portion of the cage of a teller whereby, in the event of a holdup, the teller pulls the cables 75 and 76, drawing the bars 20 and 21 outwardly against the stops 28 and 29 thereby releasing the panel 10 which, with a person thereon drops d-ownwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 with the jaws gripping the leg or legs of the burglar.

In the outward movement of the bars 20 and 21, the bars are gripped by the latches 26 and 27 and retained in position, as shown in Figure 2 until the ends of the rails 11 and 13 engage sections 77 and 78 ofbrackets 79 and 80 which are pivotally mounted by pins 81 and 82 in hangers 83 and 84, depending from the stops 28 and 29, whereby, upon engagement of the sections 77 and 78 by the ends of the tracks the pawls 26 and 27 are drawn downwardly, releasing the bars 21 and 20 whereby the bars are drawn inwardly by the springs 24 and 25 to the positions shown in Figure 4. The latches including the pawls 26 and 27 are retained upwardly in latching relation with the bars 20 and 21 by springs 85 and 86, the upper ends of which are attached to the latches with pins 8T and 88 and the lower ends of which are secured to eyes 89 and 90 of cross bars 91 and 92, mounted on lower edges of the side walls 52 and 53. The brackets 79 and 80 are secured to the latches with suitable fasteners, such as. the rivets 93.

The gripping jaws 32 and 33 include chains suspended between levers 94 and 95 on one side on which the chain 32 is positioned and`96 on the opposite side between which the chain 33 is suspended. It will be understood that the chains may be replaced with other suitable gripping elements. The levers are provided with hubs 9'7 which, in the design shown, are provided with square openings through which square sections of the shafts 34 and 35 extend.

The latches 22 and 23, which are pivotally mounted 4on pins 98 and 99 are retained in gripping relation with the bars Z and 21 by springs 100 and 101 mounted on the side walls 52 and 53 and connected to eyes 102 and 103 of the latches, are actuated by cables 104 and 105 connected to eyes 106 and 107, respectively of a Shaft 108 mounted in bearings 109 and 110 secured by bolts 111 to the under surface of the base 51 and retained in position by set collars 112 and 113. The shaft 108 is also provided with an arm 114 from which a cable 115 extends, and the cable 115 also extends to the cage of the teller whereby upon releasing the panel the cable 115 is drawn upwardly to turn the shaft 108 whereby the latches 22 and 23 are drawn downwardly to release the bars 20 and 21. Upon release `of the bars 20 and 21 force applied to the cables 75 and 76 draws the bars 20 and 21 outwardly against the stops 28 an 29 with relatively quick movements.

' The arms 18 and 19 are connected with a spring 116 one end of which is connected to the arm 18 with a pin 117 and the opposite end to the arm 19 with a pin 118 whereby upon release of the holding elements the spring 116 draws the arms 18 and 19 toward a central point urging the panel 10 upwardly to the original position in which the upper surface thereof is ilush with the surface of the lloor.

The operating instrumentalities are incorporated in an enclosure positioned between the side walls 52 and 53 and end walls 119 and 120.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described and with the operating instrumentalities installed below a'floor, such as the floor of a bank and positioned whereby the panel 10 is in front of the window of a teller, cashier, or the like, the device is substantially hidden and the average intruder will walk to a position in front of the window without being aware of the fact that he is standing up on a trap. Upon making a demand of the teller the cord 115 and also the cords or cables 75 and 76 are drawn whereby the transverse bars 20 and 21 are iirst released, and then moved against the stops 28 and 29. In this movement supporting means is drawn from the tracks and panel and with the arms 18 and 19 spreading whereby the rollers 16 and 17 move outwardly, the panel 10 is free to drop carrying the foot of the intruder down- Wardly through the opening and with the panel engaging the bumpers 30 and 31 the gripping elements are drawn inwardly to hold the legs of the intruder and in the nal movement the tracks engage the sections 77 and 78 of the brackets 79 and 80 releasing the latches and permitting the springs 24 and 25 to draw the transverse bars 20 and 21 from the position shown in Figure 2, to that shown in Figure l.

Upon release of the panel 10 bars 20 and 21 are again drawn outwardly to permit upward passage of the panel and with the panel flush with the surface of the floor the trap is again set for another cycle of operations.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, will be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a trap, the combination which comprises a panel adapted to be positioned in an opening in a floor, tracks mounted on and extended from the lower surface of the panel, arms pivotally mounted below the panel, rollers extended through upper ends of the arms and positioned in rails of said tracks, means for supporting the tracks and panel in an upper position, said supporting means being adapted to be actuated from a remote point for releasing the tracks and panel whereby the panel is adapted to drop downwardly through said opening, and means actuated by the panel in its downward movement for gripping objects thereon.

2. A trap comprising a lioor having an opening therein, a panel positioned in the opening of the oor, tracks carried by the under surface of the panel, pivotally mounted arms with rollers in extended ends positioned whereby ends of the rollers extend into rails of the tracks, resilient means for urging the upper ends of the arms together, transverse bars positioned below the tracks for supporting the tracks and panel, means slidably supporting the transverse bars, cables extended from the transverse bars and positioned to be drawn outwardly to actuate the transverse bars for releasing the tracks and panel whereby the panel drops downwardly, and means for gripping an object on the panel.

3. A trap comprising a oor having an opening therein, a panel positioned in the opening of the lioor, tracks secured to the under surface of the panel and' extended from ends thereof, a base positioned below the panel, arms pivotally mounted on the base and having rollers extended through upper ends thereof, said arms being positioned with the rollers extended into rails of the tracks, resilient means for urging the arms toward a central point, transverse bars positioned below the tracks for retaining the tracks and panel in position with the upper surface of the panel flush with the upper surface of the oor, resilient means for urging the transverse bars toward a central point, latches for retaining the transverse bars in position for supporting the `tracks and panel, means for drawing the transverse bars outwardly to release the tracks and panel whereby weight of afoot upon the panel forces the panel downwardly, gripping means actuated by downward movement of the panel for gripping a foot on the panel, pawls for retaining the transverse bars in extended positions whereby the tracks and panel are released, and means actuated by thevdownward movement of the tracks and panel for actuating the pawls for releasing the transverse bars.

4. A trap comprising a floor having an opening therein, a panel positioned in the opening of the floor, tracks secured to the under surface of the panel and extended from ends thereof, a base positioned below the panel, arms pivotally mounted on the base and having rollers extended through upper ends thereof, said arms being positioned with the rollers extended into rails of the tracks, resilient means for urging the arms toward a central point, transverse bars positioned below the tracks for retaining the tracks and panel in position with the upper surface of the panel flush with the upper surface f 5 6 of the floor, resilient means for urging the transverse for releasing the transverse bars, and resilient means for bars toward -a central point, latches for retaining the urging the pawls into gripping relation with the transtransverse bars in position for supporting the tracks and verse bars. panel, means for drawing the transverse bars outwardly to release the tracks and panel whereby weight of a foot 5 Rfelles Cif@d in the le 0f this Patent upon the panel forces the panel downwardly, gripping UNITED STATES PATENTS means actuated by downward movement of the panel for gripping a foot on the panel, pawls for retaining the /[clcam "r'll transverse bars in extended positions whereby the tracks 1731097 Faln Ot 8 1929 and panel are released, means actuated by the downward 10 2,025,124 Regensburger Dec. 24) 1935 movement of the tracks and panel for actuating the pawls 

